Thursday, May 21st we are excited to announce a book release party for Discovering Vintage Chicago by Amy Bizzarri from 6-9 pm at Le Thrift Consignment.Meet the author and hear about her experiences with visiting and learning some of Chicago's most famous and "vintage" businesses. During the event, there will be a vintage, rockabilly styled fashion show. Small bites will be served by some of the books featured restaurants and businesses. Enjoy a glass of champagne and shop consigned, designer vintage and contemporary clothing at 10% off. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Bridge to Success in Chicago.We were excited to interview Amy about her experiences while writing the book.

What was your inspiration to do the book? I
was inspired by all the businesses that are unique to Chicago; the
historic businesses that

Optimo Hats at 320 S Dearborn St., Chicago

make our city so special. How could anyone step
into a fast food joint when we live in a city that has Lem’s barbecue
rib tips, Kurowski’s kielbasa, Manny’s matzo ball soup, and Lindy’s
chili within reach? You can’t even compare the products and services of
the businesses featured in this book with those of mass retailers,
either: Just try putting an Optimo hat on your head—you’ll ooze with
elegance. Burn a beeswax lambathe from
Athenian Candle and watch it glow longer than any candle you’ve ever
lit. Bite into an Andersonville coffeecake from the Swedish Bakery—and
you’ll have a hard time returning to the artificial ingredient–laden
cakes found at most grocers…Chicago just wouldn’t be Chicago without
these historic, one-of- a-kind places, and the people that run them from
behind the scenes with nothing but love, hard work, and pride.

In a nutshell, what is the book about? Discovering Vintage Chicago is
a guide to all of the city’s timeless classic spots that take you back
in time. The book spotlights the charming stories that tell you what
each place is like now and how it got that way. It includes indexes that
let you choose the places you want to visit by neighborhood, by
category, and—naturally—by era. Discovering Vintage Chicago takes
you to classic restaurants, shops, and other establishments that still
thrive today and evoke the unique character of the city. They’re all
still around—but they won’t be around forever.

What is your favorite place to go in Chicago?

Margies Candies at 1960 N. Western Ave., Chicago

I will always love Margie's Candies. Nothing says summer quite like a Hot
Fudge Banana Split from Margie's Candies, with its three jumbo scoops
of ice cream, swirls of whipped cream, banana, sprinkling of nuts, wafer
cookie and of course, a cherry on top. It's even sweeter if you share
the happiness that is a Margie's sundae - so remember to ask for two
spoons.

What was the most interesting experiences you had while writing this book?

I
was thankful for the many family members who shared their most
cherished memories with me. Their hard work and dedication to their
craft, whether it be finding a rare record for

Superdawg at 6363 North Milwaukee Ave., Chicago

a customer, drawing out a
perfect draft of beer, or serving an ice cream sundae with a smile -
are not only the secrets to business longevity but also what makes
Chicago the great city that it is. I also have so many personal memories
tied to the places in this book: trips to the Berghoff with my Grandma
Lofthouse, during the holidays; taking my own children to Superdawg
still in our snowsuits after an afternoon of sledding at Caldwell Woods,
spending Saturdays just driving around the city with my parents, both
of whom grew up in Chicago.

What
is your favorite vintage item? Ilove any and all retro dresses. From
the elegance of the '40's to the boho style of the '60's, I am inspired
by fashions of yesteryear.